by Nina Vaclavikova
Interviews: Caterina De Gavardo, Trieste councilor for saety; Commander of the Trieste Local Police, Walter Milocchi
Trieste’s Special Interventions Unit (NIS), a specialized division of the municipal police established to address urban disorder, reported an increase in enforcement activity during the first six months of 2026, as city officials highlighted the unit’s expanding role in responding to public safety concerns.
The figures were presented Friday by city officials, including Councilor for Urban Security Caterina de Gavardo, Local Police Commander Walter Milocchi and Deputy Commissioner Giuliano Crechici.
Created in 2007, the NIS was originally tasked with tackling graffiti and other forms of urban decay. Over the years, its responsibilities have broadened to include responding to emergency situations, supporting other municipal police units and addressing issues such as unauthorized encampments, aggressive panhandling and small-scale drug dealing.
The unit now consists of 22 officers, more than double its original staff of 10. It also includes three instructors specializing in operational tactics, an armorer and, since last year, a canine unit led by Conan, a Belgian Malinois trained to detect narcotics.
According to city officials, the NIS maintains three patrols during each shift, covering the eastern and western districts of Trieste as well as the city center, where officers frequently patrol on foot. During the summer, an additional patrol is assigned to the Barcola waterfront, one of the city’s busiest recreational areas, in coordination with the motorized police unit.
De Gavardo said the data presented offered “a snapshot of the city’s current conditions” and reflected the Local Police’s growing commitment to addressing urban disorder. She noted that legislative changes in recent years, including national reforms that expanded the responsibilities of municipal police forces in urban security, had contributed to the unit’s evolving role.
Officials identified small-scale drug trafficking as one of the unit’s primary challenges, saying the canine unit had strengthened prevention and enforcement efforts. NIS officers conduct patrols both in uniform and in plain clothes and are trained to respond to higher-risk situations.
De Gavardo also said the Local Police regularly participate in joint operations coordinated by the prefecture’s police headquarters, averaging one multi-agency operation every three days.
Milocchi described the NIS as a key operational resource within the Local Police, providing rapid support to other divisions while maintaining a continuous presence across the city.
Crechici said the nature of urban policing had changed significantly over the past decade, reflecting broader social shifts. During the summer months, he said, areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, particularly Barcola, require increased monitoring because of larger gatherings of young people and a higher likelihood of disturbances affecting public spaces.
The statistics released Friday cover the full year of 2025 and the first six months of 2026, providing city officials with what they described as a benchmark for evaluating ongoing efforts to address urban disorder and maintain public safety.
